“Dee-dee, dee dee.” The sweet, whistled call of the Carolina chickadee greets me as I walk out to get the paper in the morning. “What cheer, cheer, cheer” croons the male cardinal from his perch on the telephone wire. “Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat” reverberates from the metal chimney as the red-bellied woodpecker tries to impress the girls with his drumming prowess.

Plants and flowers do a great job adding color and fragrance to the landscape, but when it comes to the soundtrack, it’s the birds that go all out to announce the arrival of spring. From mid-February until June, all the local bird channels will be playing love songs, designed to either attract a mate or claim some real estate.

While cardinals, mockingbirds and brown thrashers are searching out bushes or trees within which to build their nests, bluebirds, wrens, chickadees, titmice, nuthatches and woodpeckers prefer to nest in cavities. Woodpeckers and nuthatches can excavate their own, while the other species rely on found holes. All will use man-made birdhouses if the entrance hole is the right size and the box is properly placed.

Eastern bluebirds definitely win the contest for most sought-after bird tenant. Twenty years ago, populations for this heavenly colored thrush had declined dramatically, primarily due to a loss of nesting cavities. Thanks to the efforts of people putting boxes on poles and equipping them with predator guards, the Lowcountry bluebird population has rebounded nicely.

Several other songbird species have benefited from the bluebird’s popularity. Carolina chickadees waste no time getting down to the business of raising a family. During the winter, chickadees hang out in small flocks of about eight birds. Each member of the flock has a rank, with the highest-ranking male claiming the right to nest in the territory. Many chickadee couples maintain their pair bonds throughout the winter, so when spring arrives they don’t have to waste time courting and can sneak into the nest boxes while the bluebirds are still sorting out who’s taking whom to the big dance.

The chickadee’s slightly larger cousin, the tufted titmouse, makes its presence known with a whistled “peter, peter, peter,” or with a fussy, nasal, scolding chatter. Titmice also maintain pair bonds throughout the winter and are quick to start shopping for spring real estate. Titmice are famous for lining their nests with animal hair they occasionally pluck directly from living animals. If you want to win their undying affection, hang a wad of pet hair or fleece in a mesh bag and watch a titmouse carry it off in enormous beakfuls!

The brown-headed nuthatch is found almost exclusively in the pine forests of the southeastern United States. These feisty little birds sound like bathtub squeaky toys and can excavate their own cavities. However, their populations have been declining and they are currently on the Audubon Watchlist as a species of concern. When competition for cavities is fierce, the nuthatches often lose out to the larger, more sought-after bluebirds. By putting out several boxes and equipping some with smaller metal portals (1⅛ to 1 ¼ inch), you can be an equal opportunity birdlord, accommodating nuthatches and chickadees, as well as bluebirds, titmice, and Carolina wrens.

While wrens do occasionally rent a birdhouse, they are best known for their creative nest site choices. If there is a nest in your hanging plant, bicycle helmet, the wreath on the front door, or in the engine block of an unused vehicle, the Carolina wren is usually to blame. These tiny loudmouths with the perky tails build cup-shaped domed nests with a side entrance in as few as four days.

Yes, while the human housing market is still sluggish, early March is a great time to invest in some bird real estate! Good birding.